Key examples Flashcards
Where have thinktanks been influential?
2020: Institute fior Government Coronavirus Act 2020
Where have thinktanks been corrupt?
Policy Exhange advised government Extinction Rebellion were a group of “extremists” in 2019 - however partially funded by Energy UK.
Where have lobbyists been effectie?
Jamie Oliver camapgined agianst Turkey Twizzlers in 2005, over how unhealthy they were.
Where have lobbyists been ineffective>
Lobbying group 38 Degrees protested against Policing Bill 2022, over how it would limit the right to protest because the Police will be able to impose a start and finish time apply rules to a demonstration that people must follow or a fine! It has still passed for royal assent.
Where have lobbyists been corrupt?
David Cameron lobbied for Greenshill Capitol in 2020 and was paid $10m and attempted to secure them a contract to produce PPE.
Also in 2020, Owen Patterson successfully secured Randox a contract with the government to produce testing kits. Overall, Randox made around £500m! Owen paterson was paid around £100,000 on top of his yearly salary as a lobbyist.
Where have pressure groups been proven to be corrupt?
Forest is 95% funded by tobacco funded companies who have a vested interest in keeping smoking legal. It has achieved somewhat limited success because although smoking is yet to be entirely banned, there have been limitations on its success.
What sectional pressure group has been successful?
BMA: 2021, won ruling that would otherwise have allowed the Health Secretary to continue being allowed to suspend a Doctor’s pension after being convicted of a crime.
Stonewall’s success?
- Sexual Offences Act 2000
- Secured stopping u-turn on ban on conversion therapy, 2022
Pressure group with considerable government support.
UsForThem: 17 Tory MPs supproted the move to reopen schools, including Steve Baker who is also the Deputy Chair of the COVID Recovery Group. Achieved reopening of schools in March 2021!
Pressure group that has protected rights through SC?
UNISON v Lord Chancellor 2017: tribunal fees.
Violent pressure group method
Insulate Britain 2021 (and have continued to be violent by disrupting a court trial by gluing their hands to court furniture).
New pressure group?
Green New Deal Rising, newly established and interrupted Priti Patel’s speech on Rwanda immigration policy as they labelled it as cruel and inhumane.
Acts that have protected people’s rights
Human Rights Act 1998
Equality Act 2010
Where have rights been suspended
Coronavirus 2020
oopers Charter 2016
Policing Bill 2022
Where have the Supreme Court enforced Article 3?
MS v UK 2012
Inmate who had been imprsionewd in hospital for over 72 hours without a trial (as no hosptial places, despite them recognising he was better in a hospital could be located).
Within 48 hours, their behaviour had started to deteriorate including removing all his clothes, drinking water out of the cell toilet
The applicant was still naked and was observed to be rocking to and fro on the bench, talking to himself, banging his chest and ranting by the third day. They would not be able to put him in hospital for another 24 hours, exceeding the 72 hour limit.
the court held that due to the applicant’s state of great vulnerability manifested by the abject condition to which he quickly deteriorated, he was in urgent need of appropriate psychiatric treatment and the time it took for the applicant to receive such treatment (fourth day of detention) diminished excessively his fundamental human dignity and therefore found a breach of Article 3.
What happened in Rabone v NHS
2012
Melanie Rabone was admitted to a hospital as an emergency following a suicide attempt and began treatment for a depressive disorder. However, her doctor considered that if she attempted or demanded to leave, she could be as she was not detained by law.
She was released after requesting it, and the following day, she hung herself.
The Supreme Court found that Article 2 of the Convention had been breached.
Recent strong governments produced by FPTP
2019: 80 seat
2001: 167
1997: 179
Examples of the Winners Bonus under FPTP
2019:
Conservatives got 56% of seats but 43% of vote (13% overrepresentation!)
Example of safe seat under FPTP
Birmingham Ladywood won by 80%
Example of swing seat under FPTP
Fermanagh and South Tyrone won by 0.1%
Example of small party underrepresentation versus regional overrepresentation under FPTP
SNP: 4% vote share and 48 seats
Green: 3% vote share and 1 seat
Example of good turnout under FPTP
2019: 67%
Example of bad turnout under FPTP
59% 2001
Example of Kingmakers under AMS
Greens got 2% of vote, 2007. Could have formed government with SNP or Labour (who had 1 seat difference), and formed government with SNP so exercised considerable power over them!
Example of small majorities under AMS
Only 2011 was a majority government.
Example of turnout under AMS
65% 2021 which was a 10% increase from 2016!
Example of where STV has not worked for NI
Shutdown between 2017-2020
Example of where STV has worked for NI
Intentionally forms coalitions which work for NI. As seen by how they were able to legalise abortion in 2020
Law and order policies Conservative Party
Increased stop and search
20,000 more police officers
End half way release for violent crimes (tough!)
Welfare policies Conservative party
2019 - continued Universal Credit (although 2021 cuts), £6m on social housing
Foreign policy Conservative Party
2019 - exceed 2% GDP on defence
Maintain trident
Leave EU
Welfare policies Labour Party
Nationalisation of water, energy, etc. (supported by Keir Starmer’s 10 pledges although he later said he would abandon these)
Replace universal credit
Labour law and order manifesto
20,000 more police officers
Community sentence for prisoners with less than 6 months (relaxed!)
Foreign policy Labour Party
Second EU Referendum
Prevention of Military Intervention Act - only with Parliament’s permission!
Corbin = keep trident but probs wouldn’t use. Starmer = TRIDENT
Lib Dem foreign policy
Revoke article 50
Relations with NATO and EU
Lib Dem law and order
Presumption against short sentences
Lib Dem welfare policy
-300,000 new social houses
